Saturday, April 28, 2012

An exercise in cuteness or catechesis...

A friend has forwarded me a couple of blog posts from Roman Catholic priests who have had it with children coming to the altar for a blessing during the distribution of the Eucharist. I won't spend my time here simply repeating their complaints. They sound like many Lutherans who think that the rail is a place only for those who commune. I suppose the arguments are solid enough why children and those not communing do not belong there. But I would look at this slightly differently.

Everyone should be against doing this for purpose of being cute -- either the children or the one giving the blessing. If what we are doing is simply providing for a Kodak moment or bowing at the altar of childish demand to be included in everything, then by all means stop it. Stop it now. But I contend that there may be something much more profound at work here.

I cannot believe I am invoking Anscar Chupungco here but somewhere he made the statement that when the Church blesses we not only give thanks to God for that which is blessed but we mark that which is blessed as a continued reminder of God's presence in our lives through this blessing and of the responsibility of faith and faithful care that accompany those things we bless. I may have cleaned up his words a bit. Anyway, blessing is not a cutesie activity but a very solemn one, indeed.

When children and those who do not commune (guests, those not yet catechized) come to the rail, they are by their presence acknowledging our debt of grace -- just as are those who bring them. When we extend the hand of blessing, we are acknowledging the grace of God at work in them and those who brought them -- for it is this grace that calls them to the place where the mystery of Christ is given and received, even though they do not know this mystery and their faith may not yet be fully formed in them.

The effect of all this is then catechetical. The form of the words of blessing matters. I tie that blessing back to baptism for those whom I know to be baptized and I point to the fullness of baptism's gift and grace for those not yet baptized. May this sign of the cross remind you that you belong to the Lord Jesus by baptism and faith... as one example.

Those who do not commune are sometimes paying more attention to all that takes place at the rail than those who do receive. They come with wonder and curiosity. I have seen children over and over again reach out with desire to participate in the Sacrament. It is not the simple act of eating but the way they watch their family members around them, the others at the rail, and me, as Pastor. They are being taught by the actions that take place there. They cannot yet confess what they have seen, but they learn and they come to know the mystery of the sign that is Sacrament, the earthly form that conveys the precious body and blood of our Lord. We are, if handled well, encouraging this wonder and curiosity, encouraging their desire for and their preoccupation for the great Mystery of this Meal. We are teaching them for the day when they will be able to eat and drink the body and blood of our Lord.

This is why I invite those who do not commune to come -- not to be inclusive or cute but to teach and encourage them in faith for their own joyful communion. The Sacrament evokes its own hunger within us. Who among us has not been in a church not of our own confession and unable to commune? Did not our hearts burn for the taste of grace and the blessing of participation in the body and blood of Jesus? Even more than when we found ourselves at our own rail? No, don't bless to be cute or funny or for a Kodak moment or because you have to... Bless as part of the extra curricular catechesis in which those blessed are brought ever closer to the moment of their own joyful participation... It happened here this Sunday. A young woman who has not been instructed ever in the faith but who has been brought to the rail by her extended family sought me out for catechism so that she may participate in the fullness of the Mystery of Christ's body and blood -- a hunger which the Lord planted in part by regularly coming to the rail for a blessing. Thanks be to God!

5 comments:

I've not encountered people who are hostile to blessing folk at communion but it makes you wonder what they think happens when someone is blessed. Is it just a pastoral action devoid of consequence or meaning? What do they then believe when absolution is pronounced?

I don't have issue with children coming to the Altar for a blessing. Such was not the practice when I was growing up (children remained in the pew under the watchful eyes of other adults around them when mom and dad went up for Communion). I would almost wager, however, that those who advocate such a practice under the belief that refraining helps build anticipation for and special-ness in the Sacrament for children or others, offer the same "reasoning" for less regular celebrations of the Sacrament itself (meaning anything less than weekly celebrations).

Mark 10:13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

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The Window

This is the Means of Grace Window that is above the altar of Grace Lutheran Church where I serve. It reminds us of the keys (confession and absolution), the wheat(the bread which is the Body of Christ), the cup (which is His Blood), the Word (Scripture), and the Pastoral Office (the red stole). In this one wonderful window we see the treasures of the Church in the Word and Sacraments and I love that it is available for all to see. I realize that this image has been stolen all over the internet but it is a real window, a copyrighted image, belonging to Grace Lutheran Church, Clarksville, Tennessee, which has kindly allowed my use of it...

About Me

I have been a Lutheran Pastor for more than 37 years, serving in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and the Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Clarksville, TN, in my 25th year here. I have a lot of thoughts (obviously not all of equal weight or importance) and this place is where you meet some of those meandering thoughts from this pastoral mind.

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I spend a few minutes a few times a week checking out several different blogs. Some are on-line forums and others are the musings of friends, who, like me, are Lutheran Pastors. Since so many spend so much time in front of their computer, I am sharing a few thoughts in this medium. So join the conversation and see what pops up.